Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-04-20
TEACHERS, INSTITUTE.
second Days Proceedings
Sections.


The second days session OF the
Teachers Institute was held yesterday
at the Spring street school rooms at
o'clock A. NJ.
The Institute was divided into three
sections in separate school rooms. The
Grammar section was presided over by
Fred. II. Clark; the intermediate Sec
ton by Superintendent Meredith, OF
Ventura; the Primary section by Mrs.
Garbutt. Each room was crowded, and
most of these present took copious notes
on the various discussions that followed.
In the Grammar section, c. l.. Ennis
treated the subject of percentage and
its Applications. The debate that sue
ceeded his remarks disclosed the fact
that considerable variance of opinion
existed concerning the ACCESSIBILITY of
teaching the metaphysical, abstract
branches of higher mathematics. Some
of the speakers believed that the severe
study of complicated problems tended to
develop the intellect. Others differed,
and thought branches which would be
useful in after life should have the pref
erence, and claimed that there were
enough of these to fully occupy pupils
attention, and that in supplying them the
pupil would develop his mind quite as
much as by wasting his time on difficult
and probably unnecessary lore.
This topic being disposed OF, Prof.
Dozier, of the State Normal School,
81 IS Ar,t ,af,
Beyond Percentage" He was not in
favor of omitting any portion of the
arithmetic. The absence of well di-
rected method in teaching had more to
do in the matter than the difficult
character of the branch taught. Many
of the advanced rules of arithmetic
were forgotten by well educated peo-
pie, after launching into later life. Per-
haps the trouble was that the pupils
were to pass from one rule of arithmetic
to another without always clearly com.
pretending the last one. This was wrong.
Teachers must advance in mathematics
on commencing their profession, for few
students ever complete their course wi b
as perfect a knowledge of the subject as
their instructor had. In teaching the
principles of cube root, blocks or draw
ings should always be used. He illus
trated his method by drawings. In no
other way could the average scholar
firmly grasp the principles of the rule.
He stated that he never required pupil
to express rule in the language of the
text book. The object was only to have
the pupils have thorough comprehen
sion on the matter taught. After inter-
esting algebraic problems had been ex.
planned on the black board, a short recess
| was taken.
E. L. Pierce next made thoughtful
remarks on the best method of teaching
American history. He believed that it
was not SO important to have child re-
member names and dates as to acquire a
taste for historical reading. Pupils in
the minor grades should bA early attract.
ed to historical reading on American
subjects. Boys should know all about
Columbus, Washing ION, Paul Jones and
other leaders and heroes. Fortunately a
large number of juvenile books are now
published, dealing in an attractive man.
ner with the exploits and achievements
of the men who founded this republic.
Better that boys should be read.
ing such publications as these than
the dime novel trash that fills our
prisons with early depraved youth. In
the study of history in scho bis, the main
events and characters should be brought
into prominence, Instead of merely fol.
lowing the movements of armies, etc,
in detail. The colonies should be studied
as whole. The hardshlps which the
fathers of the Republic underwent and
the love OF liberty they acquired should
be impressed upon tbs youthful mind
, Especially should the study OF the his
/, tory of California be given great prom.
inence.
In the intermediate section. c. T.
Meredith, Superintendent of Venturs
county, spoke on Fractions and Deci
mails" L. B. Lawson on "How to Teach
Children to Write Welt" Miss Rose
Davis on "How to Gain Expression in
Reading"
In the primary section Miss Jessie
Willard with Number Work for Be
ginners;'' Miss Jessie Frater with "Ob
ject Lessons" Superintendent Meredith
explained his method of usiro the raed